Axial flow hydraulic turbine generator installation

ABSTRACT

A hydraulic turbine generator installation wherein the turbine rotor is supported centrally within a water confining tube and the generator rotor is supported by a ring connected to the radially outer ends of the turbine blades and rotates with the turbine blades. The blades are supported by the ring and a hub located in the tube to permit pivotal movement thereof. Hydraulic servomotors or the like are also supported by the ring and are connected to the blades to pivot the blades. A single power source for the servomotors is located on a stationary portion of the installation and connected by conduits through the turbine blades.

United "States Patent 1 1 1 Mayo, Jr. 1 5 1 5111111. 15, 1974 AXIAL FLOWHYDRAULIC TURBINE GENERATOR INSTALLATION Howard A. Mayo, Jr., York, Pa.

Allis-Chalmers Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis.

Filed: Nov. 10, 1972 Appl. No.: 305,494

Inventor:

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Graner 415/33 Caddell 415/129Primary Examiner--Henry F. Raduazo Attorney-John P. Hines, Robert B.Benson and Arthur M. Streich [57] ABSTRACT A hydraulic turbine generatorinstallation wherein the turbine rotor is supported centrally within awater confining tube and the generator rotor is supported by a ringconnected to the radially outer ends of the turbine blades and rotateswith the turbine blades. The blades are supported by the ring and a hublocated in the tube to permit pivotal movement thereof. Hydraulicservomotors or the like are also supported by the ring and are connectedto the blades to pivot the blades. A single power source for theservomotors is located on a stationary portion of the installation andconnected by conduits through the turbine blades.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ing the blades which overcome 1 i AXIALFLOWIIYDRAULIC TURBINE GENERATOR INSTALLATION BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention pertains in general to hydraulic turbinegenerators and more particularly to an axial flow hydraulic turbinegenerator unit wherein the turbine blades are pivotal about theiraxes'as in a conventional Kaplan turbine.

In the past, when it has been desired to pivot the turbine blades, thepivoting mechanism has been located in the runner hub in theconventional Kaplan turbine runner. This, however, necessitates anenlarged hub thereby detracting from the passage through which the waterflows.

To overcome this large hub, means have been provided on the rotatingring connected to the outer ends of the blades to pivot the blades. Sucha mechanism is shown in US. Pat. No. 2,289,420 issued July 14, 1942 toH. Graner. In this patent a number of different operating mechanism andpower sources are shown rotating on the ring with the blades and thegenerator rotor. Whereas this arrangement does overcome the large hub inthe water passageway, it does require considerable rotating equipmentwhich is inaccessible, difficult to maintain, difficult to balance andresults in a larger heavier rotating ring.

OBJECTS or THE INVENTION It is the general object and intention of thisinvention to provide any axial flow hydraulic turbine generator machine,having pivotal blades with means for operatthe shortcomings of the priorart. A'more specific object of thes'ubject invention is to provide anaxial flow hydraulic turbine generatormachine of the hereinbeforedescribed type wherein power responsive means forpivoting the bladesrotate with the blades; however, wherein the source and control of thepower for the power responsive means is stationarily locatedon anotherpart of the machine.

An additional object of the subject invention is to provide an axialflow hydro-turbine generator machine of the hereinbefore described typewherein individual hydraulic servomotors are supported on the ring andthe control valves, and pump and fluid source are on a stationary partof the machine or adjacent thereto.

may be constructed of any number of sections and connected together byflanges 8 or partially imbedded in a concrete foundation. A turbine hubgenerally designated 9 is centrally supported within the tube by meansof one or more vanes 11. The hub 9 is composed of a stationary section12 and a rotatable section 13. The vanes or ribs 11 arecircumferentially spaced about the hub and may perform the additionalfunction of guiding the water to the turbine blades. (Alternativearrangementsmay also have adjustable radial or conical wicketgatesbetween the vanes or ribs II and the rotating runner section 13.) i

The rotatable hub section 13 is rotatably connected to the stationarysection 12 in any conventional manner. As shown herein for purposes ofillustration a shaft extension 10 extends into the stationary section 12and is supported by guide bearings indicated at 15.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced radially disposed blades 14 arepivotally connected to the rotat able section 13 forrotationth'erewith'. The blades 14 are provided with an inner trunnion16 which fits into a socket formed in the rotatable section 13. Thissocket is conventionally lined with a sleeve bearing17, and

A more specific object of the subject invention is to provide an axialflow hydro-turbine generator machine of the hereinbefore described typewherein the hydraulic conduit connecting the source with the servomotorspasses through one or more of the rotating blades of the turbine. t

These and other objects of the subject invention will become more fullyapparent as the following description is read in light of the attacheddrawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view partially in section of a hydroturbine generatingunit constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view showing the outer end bladeconnection; and.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 3--3 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings a hydraulicpassageway 6 is defined by a tube generally designated 7 The tube anyconventional means for sealing the interior of the hub from the wateroutside may be provided. The blades 14 are also provided with an outertrunnion generally designated 18 (FIG. 2). g

A ring or rotor'rim assembly generally designated 19 is provided aboutthe outer ends of the blades 14. This ring as herein shown for purposesof illustration is constructed of an inner rim 21 and an outer rim 22.The inner and outer rims are connected together by circumferent'iallyspaced walls 23 shown in FIG. 3. A block 24 is provided inside of theouter rim in line with the blades 14 to supportthe outer trunnionbearing. The outer trunnion 18 of each blade is supported in a boreprovided through, the inner rim 21 and through the blocks 24 connectedto the outer rim 22. The generator rotor poles 25 are connected to theouter rim 22 by conventional means such as bolts or key slots.

Power operating means herein shown for purposes of illustration as ahydraulic servomotor 26 are connected to the ring 19 adjacent to eachblade 14; These servomotors may be connected in any conventional mannerand are herein shown pivotally connected to the inner tened to the bladeouter trunnion 18 in any conven tional manner such as by a conventionalkey and key way slot 32 as shown herein for purposes of illustration.

The ring 19 extends through an opening 33 provided through the tube 7. Aseal is provided between the tube and the ring 19 to insure that waterdoes not seep from the passageway to the exterior thereof. Such a sealcan be constructed in any conventional manner and is herein shown asincluding a pair of annular seal elements 34 supported in a grooveformed in the tube 7. The seal elements can be held in place in anyconventional manner such as by a ring 36 bolted to the tube. Each sealelement 34 engages the inner rim 21. to provide a water sealtherebetween.

A source 37 of operating fluid may be provided adjacent to or on astationary portion of the machine. Pump and valve means generallydesignated 38 and 39 respectively are provided to pressurize and directthe flow of the pressurized fluid to the servomotors 26. A

passageway 41 is provided through a support vane 11 into the stationaryhub section 12. A conventional fluid transfer mechanism generallydesignated 42 is provided between the stationary section 12 and therotatable section 13. A pair of conduits 43 and 44 deliver the fluid toand from the source 37 to the transfer mechanism 42. The'transfermechanism connects the pressurized and unpressurized conduit lines 43and 44 to the blades 14 through pipes 45 and 46. One or more blades 14are provided with a passageway extending radially through the blade andthe inner and outer trunnions l6 and 18 to connect the conduit lines 43and 44 to the servomotors. As herein shown for purposes of illustrationpassageways 47 and 50 are provided through two of the blades. The pipe45 connects conduit 43 to passageway 47 and pipe 46 connects conduit 44to passageway 50. Passageway 47 is connected to one pipe header 51 andpassageway 50 is connected to pipe header 52. Each pipe header isconnected to opposite ends of each servomotor by flexible tubing 53 anf54.

When it is desired to pivot the blades 14, the valve 39 is moved so thatpressurized fluid flows through, for instance, conduit 43. Thispressurized fluid flows through the transfer mechanism to the properblade passageway 47 or 50 depending on the desired motion of the blade.Simultaneously the fluid transfer mechanism connects the other bladepassageway to the other conduit 44, re-

turning that side of the 'servo'motor to the fluid source 37.

From the above, it can be seen that the opening mechanism for the blades14 both within the rotatable hub section 13 and the rotating ring 19have been maintained at a minimum. This permits a smaller size hub to beemployed with resulting higher unit power output, better cavitationcharacteristics, higher speed and at the same time a smaller ring andless internal mechanism requiring maintenance and adjustment and,therefore, less weight rotated at the ends of the blades.

in a similar manner grease can be provided to the outer trunnion 1.8bearings through the blades 14 via suitable rotary pipe connections,pipe headers and flexible tubing if grease lubricated bearings are used.In such cases a central automatic grease pumping system is customarilyused and would by located similar to the oil pressure system withreservoir 37, pump 38 and control valve 39.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A hydraulic installation comprising:

a water confining tube having an. annular opening therethrough; v a hubhaving a stationary section and a rotatable section;

rib means connected to said tube and said stationary section of said huband supporting said hub centrally within said tube;

a plurality of radially disposed blades extending from the rotatablesection of said hub to said tube; means connecting the inner ends ofsaid blades to said rotatable section of said hub to permit rotationthereof with said rotatable section and to permit pivotal movementthereof about the axes of the blades;

a rotatable ring pivotally supporting the outer ends of said blades,said ring extending in water sealing relation through said annularopening;

'a plurality of servorhotors supported on said ring for rotationtherewith and operatively connected to said blades to impart pivotalmovement thereto;

walls defining connected passageways through said rib means, said hub,said blades, and said ring; and

conduit means extending through said passageways and connected to saidservomotors to supply power thereto to operate same and pivot saidblades.

2. The hydraulic installation set forth in claim 1 wherein saidservomotors are hydraulic servomotors and said conduit means are fluidconduit means.

3. The hydraulic installation set forth in claim 2 and furthercomprising:

a source of hydraulic fluid supported on a stationary portion of saidinstallation; and

pump and valve means connected to a stationary portion of saidinstallation for p'ressurizing the fluid from said source and directingit through the proper conduit.

4. A hydraulic installation comprising:

a water confining tube having an annular opening therethrough;

a hub having a stationary section and a rotatable section;

rib means connected to said tube and said stationary section of said huband supporting said hub centrally within said tube;

a plurality of radially disposed blades extending from the rotatablesection of said hub to said tube;

means connecting the inner ends of said blades to said hub to permitrotation thereof with said hub and to permit pivotal movement thereofabout the axes of the blades;

a rotatable ring pivotally supporting the outer ends of said blades,said ring extending in water sealing relation through said annularopening;

a plurality of hydraulic servomotors equal in number to the number ofsaid blades supported on said ring for rotation therewith and eachoperatively connected to the associated 'blade to impart pivotalmovement thereto;

walls defining connected passageways through said rib means, said hub,said blades, and said ring;

a source of hydraulic fluid supported in a stationary portion of saidinstallation fluid conduit means extending through said passageways andconnecting said source to said servomotors; and

pump and valve means supported in a stationary portion of saidinstallation and operatively connected to said conduit means topressurize and direct the fluid from said source to said servomotors.

1. A hydraulic installation comprising: a water confining tube having anannular opening therethrough; a hub having a stationary section and arotatable section; rib means connected to said tube and said stationarysection of said hub and supporting said hub centrally within said tube;a plurality of radially disposed blades extending from the rotatablesection of said hub to said tube; means connecting the inner ends ofsaid blades to said rotatable section of said hub to permit rotationthereof with said rotatable section and to permit pivotal movementthereof about the axes of the blades; a rotatable ring pivotallysupporting the outer ends of said blades, said ring extending in watersealing relation through said annular opening; a plurality ofservomotors supported on said ring for rotation therewith andoperatively connected to said blades to impart pivotal movement thereto;walls defining connected passageways through said rib means, said hub,said blades, and said ring; and conduit means extending through saidpassageways and connected to said servomotors to supply power thereto tooperate same and pivot said blades.
 2. The hydraulic installation setforth in claim 1 wherein said servomotors are hydraulic servomotors andsaid conduit means are fluid conduit means.
 3. The hydraulicinstallation set forth in claim 2 and further comprising: a source ofhydraulic fluid supported on a stationary portion of said installation;and pump and valve means connected to a stationary portion of saidinstallation for pressurizing the fluid from said source and directingit through the proper conduit.
 4. A hydraulic installation comprising: awater confining tube having an annular opening therethrough; a hubhaving a sTationary section and a rotatable section; rib means connectedto said tube and said stationary section of said hub and supporting saidhub centrally within said tube; a plurality of radially disposed bladesextending from the rotatable section of said hub to said tube; meansconnecting the inner ends of said blades to said hub to permit rotationthereof with said hub and to permit pivotal movement thereof about theaxes of the blades; a rotatable ring pivotally supporting the outer endsof said blades, said ring extending in water sealing relation throughsaid annular opening; a plurality of hydraulic servomotors equal innumber to the number of said blades supported on said ring for rotationtherewith and each operatively connected to the associated blade toimpart pivotal movement thereto; walls defining connected passagewaysthrough said rib means, said hub, said blades, and said ring; a sourceof hydraulic fluid supported in a stationary portion of saidinstallation fluid conduit means extending through said passageways andconnecting said source to said servomotors; and pump and valve meanssupported in a stationary portion of said installation and operativelyconnected to said conduit means to pressurize and direct the fluid fromsaid source to said servomotors.